Rural Malaysia Holds a Key

Ruling Coalition to Find
Fiercest Election Fight
In Remote Areas

By

Leslie Lopez Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated March 17, 2004 5:57 p.m. ET

TOK SEBIL, Malaysia -- Tucking into a plate of fried rice at a zinc-roofed stall in this farming hamlet in Kedah state, Azmi Samad says his mind is pretty much made up. The 44-year-old factory worker will vote for Malaysia's conservative Islamic opposition party in Sunday's parliamentary and state elections.

"I'm a Muslim and PAS's struggle is for the religion," he declares, referring to Parti Islam Se-Malaysia. Mr. Azmi's...